“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” — Neh. 4:9

We are in danger of making prayer a substitute for duty; or of trying to roll over on God, the burden of caring for us and doing things for us—while we sit still and do nothing! When we pray to be delivered from temptation—we must keep out of the way of temptation, unless duty clearly calls us there. We must also guard against temptation, resist the Devil, and stand firm in obedience and faith. When we ask God for our daily bread, pleading the promise that we shall not lack—we must also labor to earn God’s bread, and thus make it ours honestly.

A lazy man came once and asked for money, saying that he could not find bread for his family. “Neither can I!” replied the industrious mechanic to whom he had applied. “I am obliged to work for it!”

While we pray for health—we must use the means to obtain it.

While we ask for wisdom—we must use our brains and think, searching for wisdom as for hidden treasure.

While we ask God to help us break off a bad habit—we must also strive to overcome the habit.

Prayer is not merely a device for saving people from toil, struggle and responsibility. When there is no human power adequate to the need—we may ask God to work without us, and in some way He will help us. But ordinarily We must do our part, asking God to work in and through us, and to bless us through faithful obedience.–J R Miller, 1895

Whereunto I also labour , striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily . –Col. 1:29

“The gospel of your salvation.” Ephesians 1:13

Our salvation is our deliverance from sin, the curse, and the wrath of God; this was impossible to man, but God sent His own Son in our nature, to save us freely, fully and eternally. The gospel is the “good news of our salvation.” It is sent to inform us that God is love; that grace reigns; that heaven is opened; that provision is made for our guilt, weakness, and fears; that God waits to receive us, bless us, and glorify us with Himself for ever. It sets before us all Christ has done, all He possesses, and invites us to come and receive, to use, and be happy. It requires nothing of us to entitle us, it presents all it has, and gives it freely to the poor, the halt, the maimed, and the blind. It has all our misery requires, all our wants demand; we cannot wish for more than it brings; it is full of grace, and full of glory. Precious gospel! Glorious news! May we receive it, act upon it daily, and so be happy. It is intended to fill us with joy and peace in believing, to lead us to abound in hope, and to make us more than conquerors over despondency, doubt, and fear.

For you the purple current flowed,
In pardons from His wounded side;
Languished for you the eternal God;
For you the Prince of glory died;
Believe, and all your sins forgiven;
Only believe, and yours is heaven. –James Smith

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”(Luke 19:10)

Here is a great subject—“the Son of man”. At first glance this might seem to be a title unbecoming of our Lord, but it is rich in meaning. Concerning His ancestry He is called “the son of Abraham”. Concerning maternity He is called “the son of Mary”. Concerning religion He is called the “Son over His own house”. Concerning deity He is called “the Son of God”. But, concerning humanity He is called “the Son of man”. It is the title He chose for Himself. It identifies Him as the representative man, the last Adam. It pictures Him as our near Kinsman and Redeemer. The Son of God became the Son of man that the sons of man might become the sons of God.

Here is a glorious statement—“is come”. So short, so simple, but so sweet! Long years before, the promise had been given that He would come. One prophet after another announced the news and assured their generation that Messiah would come, until finally it could be said, “the Son of man is come”. Those were the words God’s people longed to hear. This was the news that brought hope to the hopeless, confirmed the message of John the Baptist, frightened kings, infuriated the devil, and describes Christmas.

His birth was according to the promise, by means of a virgin, at the appointed time, celebrated by angels, attended by shepherds, and the first step to a hill called Mt. Calvary. His birth is to the cross what the bud is to the flower, the spring is to the stream, the grain is to the wheat, the clover is to the honey, and the sun is to the summertime. He came down from the adoration of angels to the abominations of earth, the blessedness of heaven to the burdens of hardship on earth, the comforts of glory to the condemnation of the guilty. He came from delight to decadence, ecstasy to execution, glory to gloom, joy to jeers, majesty to misery, nobility to nothingness, peace to pain.

Here is a gracious service—“to seek and to save that which was lost”. the Son of man did not come to behold the wonders of the world, reform corrupt governments, start welfare programs to assist the poor, or to heal man’s physical ailments. He came to meet man’s greatest need–“to save that which was lost”. That makes this important to all of us, for we are all lost by nature. We are sinners, separated from God, dead in our trespasses and sins. Yet the Son of man came “to seek and to save”. That’s a love story without equal. It is the grandest service ever rendered and the greatest story ever told. The same One who came to the very place where Zachaeus was and called him, has come to you and is calling for you. Will you come to Him who came for you? Don’t just think about it–do it!

“—-he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”–Eph. 1:6
One of the worst feelings in life is that of being rejected, unaccepted, unwanted. Perhaps you can think of some painful experience, such as being rejected for a part in the school play, a place on the team, a raise at work, a marriage proposal, etc. That can hurt, but there is something much worse. The Bible tells us of those who will be rejected by God (Matt. 7:21-23). It doesn’t get any worse than that! The good news is that God’s Word also tells us how we can be accepted by God. It doesn’t get any better than that! There are three things that need to be considered.

I. THE BARRIER TO OUR ACCEPTANCE
Although God loves you, your sin has separated you from God (Eph. 2:1-3). He is holy and we are sinful, consequently the natural man cannot have fellowship with God. Until we are reconciled to God we cannot have a relationship with God. Until then we are rebels, outcast, strangers, etc. Our sinfulness is a barrier so big that we cannot possibly get to God through our own effort. But in Christ we have hope.

II. THE BASIS OF OUR ACCEPTANCE
There is much needless confusion and many misconceptions regarding what it takes for us to be accepted by God. Some claim it is by baptism, church membership, good deeds, etc., but none of those things can make us acceptable to God. It is only by grace through faith in Christ that God accepts us. We are “accepted in the beloved”, not in baptism, etc.

III. THE BLESSINGS OF OUR ACCEPTANCE
Although the blessing of salvation are numerous they are all due to the two things mentioned in Eph. 1:7:
1. “we have redemption”. That means we have been set free by the payment of a ransom. When Christ died He paid our sin debt. He delivered us from the condemnation we were under. The precious blood of Christ pays for the penalty of our sins. He was punished in our place.
2. “the forgiveness of sins”. This speaks of being released from sin’s guilt. Although we aren’t perfect, we escape the punishment of our sins because Christ died for them. We are forgiven because every sin, past, present or future is washed away by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Think about it dear friend. The God of the universe is willing to forgive you of all your sins, accept you as His child, make you part of His family, give you a home in heaven, and assist you every step of the way. All this because of Jesus! He was rejected that you might be accepted. He died that you might live. He was condemned that you might be forgiven. The Son of God became the Son of man that the sons of man might become the sons of God. Of this we are sure!

Since God cannot lie, you can have blessed assurance that you are accepted by God– because you have accepted the beloved Son of God as your Savior. Why would you reject His acceptance? It’s not like He asked you to climb the highest mountain, or swim across ocean, or count the stars, or sacrifice your children, or work your fingers to the bone. All He requires is that you accept His Son as your Lord and Savior. Through simple child-like faith you can be accepted by God.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”–Romans 6:23

Walter L. Wilson was trained as a medical doctor and practiced medicine for many years, but his greatest passion was pointing people to Jesus. Dr. Wilson told the story of how he used John 3:16 to lead a young boy to Christ. Stressing the importance of receiving the gift of eternal life Wilson asked, “Does the giving of a gift make it yours?” The boy answered, “You must take it if it is to become yours.” “True,” said Dr. Wilson, “and so Christ must be taken as God’s gift, if He is to become yours. I am a doctor,” he went on, “but I am not your doctor, am I?” “No,” said the boy. “Why not?” asked Wilson. “Because we never took you as our doctor,” the boy replied. “Very well, then, Jesus Christ is a Saviour, but He is not your Saviour unless you take Him. Will you do so now?” The boy did.

Our society likes to view all religions and beliefs as equal. We are told there are many paths to God. But that is not the message of the Bible, nor is it the message of Jesus Himself. He came into to the world to provide the only means of salvation that is acceptable to God and available to man. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

If Jesus is the only way to Heaven (and He is), then those of us who know this truth have a responsibility to share the good news with others and point them to the way of life. God’s plan is not for us to be saved alone but to bring others with us on the way to Heaven.( Daily in the Word)

Dear friend, have you received God’s glorious gift? He offers whosoever will the gift of eternal life. All that is necessary to receive it is for you to put your faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior. God accepts all who accept His Son (Eph. 1:6). Regardless of who you are or what you’ve done God promised to forgive you and save you if you will receive His Son as your Savior. He offers you the gift of eternal life, will you receive it?